Two calls for applications for Postdoctoral Researchers' and PhDs Students' positions at Ghent University

Three Postdoctoral Researchers

• Last application date: 21 June, 2013 17:00
• Department: PS04 - Department of Sociology
• Contract: limited
• Occupancy rate: 100%
• Vacancy Type: wp

The faculty of Political and Social Sciences has three vacancies for the Odysseus project Higher Education Governance (five-year Flemish Research Council project), starting from August 1, 2013. It concerns full-time positions (100%) as Postdoctoral Researcher for five years (initially three years, with the possibility to extend the contract for another two years on the basis of a satisfactory level of performance). The selected candidates will be charged with research in the area of Higher Education Governance. Limited academic teaching may be part of the portfolio of activities.

Profile

• candidates should hold a PhD degree in the Social Sciences (preferably Sociology, Public Administration, Political Sciences or Educational Studies) or a degree recognized as equivalent;
• it is considered an advantage if candidates have research experience in the field of study concerned (higher education in general; preferably in the area of policy. governance and/or management), proven by recent publications in national and international peer reviewed journals and/or books;
• candidates should have a keen interest in interdisciplinary research, there is no explicit preference for either qualitative or quantitative methods, but proficiency in both areas is appreciated;
• it is considered an advantage if candidates have a track record in applying for and coordination of national and international research projects;
• candidates are required to possess the necessary didactic, organizational and communicative skills for teaching at an academic level.

Apart from these individual profiles, the project leader will need to assure that the full project research team is balanced in terms of backgrounds and expertise. More detailed information on these vacancies and on the way this job fits in the department’s strategy can be obtained from Prof. Jeroen Huisman, chair of the evaluation committee and Higher Education Governance project leader (tel. +32 (0) 9 264 69 78; e-mail: jeroen.huisman@ugent.be).

Method of application Applications

• should arrive no later than 21 June, 2013, 17:00
• by e-mail to <link>jeroen.huisman@ugent.be, as well as a paper version to Prof. Jeroen Huisman, Department of Sociology, Ghent University, Korte Meer 5, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
• including your CV, a brief motivation letter and a one- or (maximum) two-page summary of the research you would like to carry out within the field of Higher Education Governance (please merge all the documents in one file).

The candidate will receive an e-mail confirming receipt of the application. Three PhDs Student

• Last application date: 21 June, 2013 17:00
• Department: PS04 - Department of Sociology
• Contract: limited
• Degree: MSc (or equivalent degree) in the Social Sciences (preferably Sociology, Public Administration, Political Sciences or Educational Studies)
• Occupancy rate: 100%
• Vacancy Type: PhD

Job Description Project title: Higher education governance

The three PhD projects should focus on an element of the broader research project Higher Education Governance. This is a so-called Odysseus project, funded by the Flemish Research Council for five years. The project is – broadly speaking – interested in how (multi-actor, multi-level) governance arrangements evolve in higher education, how this impacts on the higher education fabric in different higher education systems and how higher education institutions respond to and adapt to the emerging governance challenges. The PhD students will initially be appointed for two years, with the possibility of an extension for another two years, if satisfactory progress is made in the first years.

The PhD students will likely closely work together with each other and with other staff (postdoctoral researchers) on the Higher Education Governance project. Profile

We are looking for highly motivated individuals with an MSc (or equivalent degree) in the Social Sciences (preferably Sociology, Public Administration, Political Sciences or Educational Studies), with a strong interest in higher education research and/or a strong interest in governance issues. Research experience in these topics is an advantage. Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Candidates should be able to work independently and in a team.

The successful candidates will be offered a full-time PhD position for four years (initially two years) in the research project. The applicants must be eligible for PhD studies and will enroll in the Doctoral School Programme of Ghent University. The candidates shall devote their time primarily to their own research studies. The candidates should be willing to travel for shorter or longer research stays abroad.

The candidates will perform their research in a multidisciplinary collaboration of different research groups at Ghent University, Faculty of Political and Social Sciences.

Apply

Please send a description of your past work, a statement of your research interests (a one- or maximum two-page outline of the research project you envisage), a curriculum vitae (including grades, courses followed, the title of your master thesis and a list of any publications) as well as names, mail and e-mail addresses of two referees. 

The applications should be received before 21 June, 2013, 17:00. A paper version should be sent to Prof. Jeroen Huisman, Department of Sociology, Ghent University, Korte Meer 5, 9000 Gent, Belgium, and an electronic version to jeroen.huisman@ugent.be. Students currently finishing their Master degree are also invited to apply. The PhD scholarships must commence in the Autumn of 2013.

For further informal enquiries on the positions please contact:  _{Prof. Jeroen Huisman 
Department of Sociology 
Korte Meer 1, B-9000 Gent
E: jeroen.huisman@ugent.be
T: +32 (0) 9 264 69 78}